Hallabol VOICES (04 November 2013)
Smile on Wheels, the innovative national level mobile hospital programme of Smile Foundation, was recently flagged off by the talented actress Sonakshi Sinha in Mumbai. This one-of-its-kind programme is designed to take curative, preventive and promotive healthcare services to the doorsteps of urban poor and underserved villagers. Smile team shares more about this smiling endeavour on Halabol platform.
So what is Smile on Wheels all about? Another healthcare van that will provide services to under-privileged section of society! What does it do that would make people actually smile. Team Smile Foundation joins Halabol platform once again to share more on this. The whole team is proud to have the patronage of Sonakshi Sinha for this esteemed venture.
But more than the celebrity presence, the infrastructural facilities of Smile on Wheels steals all attention.
“Equipped with the appropriate healthcare expertise and medical equipments, each Smile on Wheels mobile hospital provides comprehensive healthcare services in selected clusters of urban communities or remote villages which are in dire need of healthcare facilities. Each Smile on Wheels is equipped with advanced laboratory facilities (semi auto analyzer), X-Ray machine with facility of auto film developer, ECG machine, life support system, refrigerator, power back up with digitalized distribution system and air-conditioning etc. Smile on Wheels is also equipped with Global Positioning System to monitor it centrally in real time.”
Now that’s a big Wow! Isn’t it great to have a mobile hospital which is also accompanied by a team of qualified healthcare and medical staff comprising of doctor, laboratory technician, nurse, project coordinator, community mobilizer and driver delivering best of healthcare facilities right at the doorsteps of those who need it most!
“Smile on Wheels is equipped with digital screen TV screen, DVD and audio visual systems in order to educate and sensitize the target population on behaviour change communication. The objective is to create health seeking behaviour of individuals we as well as the community. The idea to have such a thing came up in 2006 in the form of a mobile hospital model and named it Smile on Wheels. The model takes best available healthcare solutions to the doorsteps of the urban and rural poor. The two-pronged approach brings quality healthcare services to the doorsteps of the needy and promotes awareness and health seeking behaviour among the underprivileged.”
Mr Shyamashis Bhattacharya, Trustee Shakuntalam Charitable Foundation handing over the key to Mr Vikram Singh Verma COO Smile Foundation
The good thing is that Smile on Wheels is a unique mobile hospital programme that seeks to address problems of accessibility, availability and affordability of primary healthcare with a special focus on children and women, in urban slums and remote rural areas. It aims at providing comprehensive health services in the communities or villages of selected districts which are either very far from the nearest heath care facility or people of areas cannot afford and access the private or governmental health care services available.
“At present Smile on Wheels programme is taking curative, preventive and promotive healthcare to the doorsteps of urban poor and underserved villagers benefitting 231,000 lives directly in a year through 19 projects in 265 remote villages and urban slums across India. Like various renowned celebrities and public figures, Sonakshi Sinha has been associated with Smile Foundation and has been a part of our various endeavours. She really loved the news of introducing Smile on Wheels for the urban poor of Mumbai recently and came forward to support the initiative. This was the first Smile on Wheels project in Mumbai and the 20th such project in India. Leading celebrities always wish to get associated with a social cause which they identify with. Millions of fans adore them and when they join a good cause or campaign, it gets due attention.”
Indeed, Sonakshi Sinha was very happy to be a part of this noble endeavour.
In her words –
“Good health is a basic human right and sadly its one the most neglected thing in today’s world. I am really pleased to associate with Smile Foundation’s new initiative, Smile on Wheels mobile hospital. I am sure Smile on Wheels mobile hospital will prove to be a beautiful Diwali gift for the deserving communities in Mumbai bringing good health, survival and hope. I applaud the efforts of Smile Foundation for bringing best possible healthcare to the doorsteps of those who need it the most in the city of Mumbai.”
Halabol is equally proud of the contribution made by Smile Foundation through their Smile on Wheels programme. No wonder, Smile Foundation has received numerous awards for Smile on Wheels programme which include Healthcare Excellence Award 2012 and GE-Healthcare Modern Medicare Award. The World Health Care Congress has recognised Smile on Wheels as the ‘Unique Delivery Model’ in taking healthcare to the poor.
Halabol also cheers for the celebrities who lend their presence and support to such campaigns. Hoping to see a great impact of Smile on Wheels campaign in coming future!
Source: http://voices.halabol.com/2013/11/04/sonakshi-sinha-flags-smile-wheels-mumbai